John Byron Hackett, Sr. was born in New York City in 1933 and grew up in Flushing, New York. He is a graduate of Power Memorial Academy, Iona College and St. John's University School of Law. Byron began his legal career as an attorney with NBC at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. He spent many years in advertising with J. Walter Thompson, where he authored a book entitled How to Keep Your Ads Out of Court. Later in his career, Byron practiced real estate law, where he loved interacting with all the interesting characters of New York commercial real estate. He raised his family in Manhasset, Long Island. Byron was an avid golfer and got great joy planning golf vacations for his friends.
He is survived by his children, Kim Cross (Martin) and John Byron Hackett, Jr. (Karen). Byron has four grandchildren, Tucker Vangsnes (Chris), Colin Cross, Joseph Cross and Keeran Cross and two great-grandchildren, Sutton Vangsnes and Riley Vangsnes. He also leaves three nephews and a niece he adored, Barbara Duncan Jarel, Steve Leary, Greg Leary, John Leary, and many great nieces and nephews. Byron was preceded in death by his wife, Katie and, most recently, his beloved sister, Marilyn Leary, who lived for 100 years.
Byron moved to Fairview, Texas in 2016 but returned frequently to New York to see family, friends and to enjoy Lincoln Center and the New York Mets. He loved his adopted home of Texas, where every day he would remark about how nice and friendly all the people are.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 6, 2023 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 1515 North Greenville Avenue, Allen, Texas 75002.
In lieu of flowers Byron would appreciate donations to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation which provides assistance to the families of military and first responders killed or injured in the line of duty.